Fastener for wrist-watch bands



May 7, 1946.

J. FIKUART 7 2,399,667

FASTENER FOR WRIST WATCH BANDS Filed March 4, 1944 INVENTOR. c]: F/KVA I? 7' Patented May 7, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,399,667 FASTENER FOR WRIST-WATCH BANDS Joshua Fikuart, Lincoln, n1. 7 Application March 4, 1944, Serial No. 525,074 9 Claims. (01. 24- 265) This inventionrelates to a fastener for a wristwatch band and it is one object of the invention to provide a fastener which can be very easily applied to or removed from a watch but will not be liable to accidently slip out of place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastener consisting of companion bars which are pivoted together so that they may be moved from an extended position in alignment to a retracted position diagonally of each other. It will thus be seen that when the bars are moved to the retracted position, the overall length of the fastener will be reduced to such an extent that the fastener may be disposed between sockets and the bars'then moved to an extended position in alignment with their outer ends engaged in the sockets and holding the fastener in place between the sockets.

Another object of the invention is to provide the bars with laterally extending members which limit pivotal movement of the bars and have such engagement with each other that they yieldably resist pivotal movement of the bars.

Another object of the invention is to so arrange the laterally extending members that pull exerted when straps are secured about a persons wrist will tend to urge the bars towards an extended position and thus prevent the bars from movingtowards a retracted position while the watch is being worn;

Another object of the invention is to form the laterally extending members that by grasping the laterally extending members and exerting pulling or pushing force thereon, the bars may be easily moved to a retracted position and released from a watch when new bands are to be applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastener which is simple in construction; easy to apply or remove, and of such formation that services of a watch maker'is not necessary in.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a new band for one which in the accompanythe fastener applied and the band extending from the watch in the position it assumes when engaged about a persons wrist.

Figure 6 is a view taken along the line 6- 6 of Figure 5. m

Figure '7 is a view taken along the line 1-'| of Figure 5. m

Figure 8 is a perspective viewof one of the bars forming the fastener. t

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the other bar of the fastener. I

The watch, which is indicated in generalby the numeral I, is a wrist watch of conventional construction and has at each side spaced arms 2 in which are formed transversely extending sockets 3 which may extend entirely through the arms, as shown, or be only open at their inner ends. The wrist band or strap 4 may be formed of leather, fabric, or other suitable material and at each end is formed with a loop 5 to receive a fastener. It will be understood that the band may be in two sections having their outer ends formed with loops to receive fasteners and having their inner ends connected by a buckle or as a single band having one end looped to receive a fastener and its other end portion folded back upon itself and adjustably secured so that it may be slidably engaged with the fastener and secured in close fitting'engagement about a persons wrist. l p

The improved fastener which takes the place of the fasteners now generally used and having a spring-pressed pintle at one end, consists of companion bars 6 which are of duplicate construction, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, and referring to these figures, it will be seen that each bar hasits outer end formed with a pintle 1 of such diameter that the pintles may be engaged in thesockets 3 of the bars 2. The inner end portions of the bars are of reduced thickness to form hinge portions 8 which overlap and are pivotally connected, with each other by a pin 9 whichpasses through openings In in the hinge members. Therefore, the bars may be swung from an extended position in which they are in longitudinal alignment, as shown in Figure 3, to a retracted position, as shown in Figure 1. When the bars are in the retracted position, the'overall length of the fastener willbe such that it may be disposed between the arms 2 with the pintle of one bar engaged in the socket of an arm and the pintle of the other bar in position to engage in the socket'of the companion arm when thebars are swung to the extended position. At inner ends of the hinge members 8 the bars are formed with abutment shoulders I l, and since these shoulders are engaged by ends of the hinge members when the bars are swung towards an extended position, such movement will be limited and the bars prevented from moving in this direction beyond a position in longitudinal alignment.

Each bar carries a fan-shaped leaf 12 which is integrally connected with the bar by a neck I3 and of the .same thickness as the hinge member 8 of the bar. The leaves extendlaterally from the outer side faces l6 of the bar and each has a lip l4 along one side edge and a rib or tooth l5 along its other side edge. together in face to face engagement with each other and each has its inner side face formed with a groove is in close parallel relation to ltslip 1'4 and a second groove I'l spaced transversely .from the groove 16. These grooves are to receive the lips l5, and referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that when the bars are retracted the lips engage in the grooves I], whereas when the bars are extended they fitinto theg grooves lfiandhave abutting engagement with the ribs, :as shown in Figure 3. Therefore, the lips serve to yieldably resist swinging movement of :the bars and :also serve to limit movement of the bars when swung to the extended position. :It should also be noted that when the bars are swung towards the retracted position of-Figure 1, the lips limit such movement by abutting engagement with inner side faces of -the bars.

When the fastener is *to be applied it is passed through the loop of the strap while in a retracted condition and one pintle engaged in the socket of an arm -2. The bars are then straightened and as they move to the extended position, the other pintle moves into the socket of the-companion arm. The fastener will "thus assume the position'of 'Figures 3 and .5,'and referring particularly to Figure 5, it will be seen ,that'when the band or strap is tightened about a person's wrist, pull will .be exerted outwardly against inner side faces .of the bars and this pressure will tend to maintain the bars in the extended position and the pintles will not move out of the sockets. the strap is released and the watch removed from a person's wrist, resiliency of the leaves will maintain .the ribs 15 in the grooves l6 and yieldably resist movement of the bars towards a retracted position, It will thus be seen that the bars will not accidently move to a retracted position and the pintles will be held in the sockets. When the fastener is to be removed, it is merely necessary to turn the bar to the position of Figure 3 and grasp inner .end portions thereof, pull being then exerted to snap the ribs out of the grooves l6 and swing the arms to the retracted Position of Figure 1. The ribs then engage in the grooves l1 and yieldably hold the bars retracted. The fastener may then be easily lifted out of place between the arms 2 and a new strap applied to the watch. It will thus be seen that the fastener may be easily removed and replaced and that no tools are necessary in order to do so.

While I have described this invention as particularly used with watch straps .in the connection thereof with watches. it will be understood that same may equally well be adapted to use with bracelets or bands, either where same may be attached to watches or otherwise, thus eliminating the use of buckles or extension clasps.

It will be further understood that whileI have described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth, various changes in form,

The leaves fit close 1 proportion and in the minor details of construction may :be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A fastener for connecting a Wrist band with the watch having spaced sockets at its sides, said fastener comprising companion members pivotally connected for movement from an extended position disposing ends of said members in'position to engage in sockets of the watch to a retracted osition for freeing the members from the sockets,

and means for limiting pivotal movement of said members and-yiel'dably resisting such movement.

2. A fastener for connecting a wrist-watch band with a watch having spaced sockets at its sides,

said fastener comprising members having inner end portions overlapped and pivoted to each other, outer ends of said members being provided with pintlesfor engaging in sockets of the watch and mounting the fastener between the sockets, and companion means carried by inner end portions of said members for limiting and yieldably resisting pivotal movement of said members.

3. A fastenerfor .connecting a wrist-watch band with a watch having spaced sockets at its sides, said fastener comprising bars having inner end portions overlapped and pivoted to each other to mount the bars for movement from an extended position in alinement to a diagonally disposed retracted position, pintles at outer ends of said bars for engaging in sockets of the watch when the bars are extended and holding the fastener to the watch, and companion members carried by said bars for limiting and yieldably resisting pivotal movement of said bars.

4. A fastener for connecting a wrist-watchband with a watch having spaced sockets at its sides. said fastener comprising bars having inner end portions-overlapped and pivoted to each other to mount the bars for movement from anextended position in alinement to a diagonally-disposed retracted position, pintles at outer ends of said bars for engaging in sockets of the Watch when the bars are extended and holding the fastener to the watch, leaves extending from outer sides of the overlapped inner end portions of said bars :in overlappedand face to face engagement with each other, and said leaves being provided With companion means for yieldably resisting pivotal movement of said bars.

5. A fastener for connecting a wrist-watch band with a watch having spaced sockets atits sides, said fastener comprising bars having inner end portions overlapped and pivoted to each-other to mount the bars for movement from anextended position in alinement to a diagonally disposed retracted position, the outer ends of said bars being adapted for engaging in sockets of the watch when the bars are extended and mount the fasteners between the sockets, and cooperatin leaves extending from outer sides of said bars in overlapped engagement with each other for yieldably resisting pivotal movement of the arms.

'6. A fastener for connecting a wrist-watch band with a watch having spaced sockets at its sides, said fastener comprisin bars having inner end portions overlapped and pivoted to each other to mount the bars for movement from an extended position in alinement to a diagonally disposed retracted position, the outer ends of said bars being adapted for engaging insockets of the watch when the bars are extended and mount the fasteners between the sockets, leaves extending laterally from outer sides of inner end portions of said bars in overlapping engagement with each other, each leaf being formed with a rib along one side edge and a lip along its other side edge to engage the rib of the companion leaf and limit pivotal movement of the bars when moved to an extended position, and each leaf being also formed with a groove to receive the rib of the companion leaf when moved to a retracted position.

7. A fastener for connecting a wrist-watch band with a watch having spaced sockets at its sides, said fastener comprising bars having inner end portions overlapp d and pivoted to each other to mount the bars for movement from an extended position in alinement to a diagonally disposed retracted position, the outer ends of said bars being adapted for engaging in sockets of the watch when the bars are extended and mount the fasteners between the sockets, leaves extending laterally from inner sides of inner end portions of said bars in overlapping engagement with each other, each leaf being formed with a rib along one side edge and a lip along its other side edge, the ribs and the lips being engageable with the inner side faces of the bars to limit movement of the bars to a retracted position, and each leaf having a groove adjacent its lip and another groove spaced laterally from the first groove to receive the rib of the companion leaf and yieldably hold the bars in extended and retracted positions.

' 8. A fastener for connecting a wrist-watch band with a watch having spaced sockets at its sides, said fastener comprising bars having inner end portions overlapped and pivoted together for movement from an extended position in alinement for engaging in sockets of the watch to a retracted position diagonally or" each other, and members carried by said bars for controlling pivotal movement of the bars.

9. A fastener for connecting a wrist-watch band with a watch having spaced sockets at its sides, said fastener comprising bars having inner end portions overlapped and pivoted together for movement from an extended position in alinement for engaging in sockets of the watch to a retracted position diagonally of each other, and overlapping "members extending laterally from said bars for controlling pivotal movement of the bars, said members having companion elements for yieldably resisting movement of the said members.

JOSHUA FIKUART. 

